Hockey half-pitch project gets council nod

Plans to give Margaret River hockey players a home reached a crucial milestone at a council meeting the week before last.

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council decision would green-light construction of a half-pitch in the Gloucester Park precinct, with a confidential tender by Industrial Roadpavers costed at just below $700,000.

Shire president Ian Earl saluted the tenacity of the Margaret River Hockey Club in pursuing the project, as well as vigorous fundraising.

A separate tender would be required for road network treatments, slated for about $110,000, and a synthetic pitch surface valued at $270,000.

While more than $1 million was budgeted for the project, external funding of $334,000 comes from WA’s Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund, an Australian Sports Commission grant of $200,000, MRHC pitching in $175,000, and a further $150,000 from the Gloucester Park reserve, $50,000 from the Shire’s Community Facilities reserve, and $146,270 rolled over from the 2020-21 budget.